Conduct a Natural Resource Inventory or Assessment (NRI or NRA); incorporate protection of priority natural systems or resources such as groundwater through the subdivision or development process.
Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
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Complete an NRI or NRA and use findings in the decision-making process when evaluating land use options. Report individual tree replacement ordinances in best practice action 16.5 |
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Adopt ordinance language that utilizes findings in the inventory/assessment; adopt an incentive for conservation design in your zoning or subdivision ordinance, in which at least 50% of developable land is permanently protected, or create a conservation design district that requires the use of conservation design practices such as permanent protection of high quality habitat/open space, explicit wildlife corridors. |
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Create city-wide protections for natural systems/resources (e.g., groundwater, uplands, forest bats), such as mandatory natural resource design standards for priority natural resource and open space areas, or for rezonings of agricultural or other undeveloped land, require a finding of fact that undeveloped residential land in the city is insufficient to meet market demand. |
Resources
- Use the DNR’s Minnesota Conservation Explorer to identify Natural Heritage Information System data for both conservation planning and identifying rare resources.
- The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) is a standardized system for classifying and rating natural resources.
- NRI and NRA checklist for cities from the MN Dept. of Natural Resources.
- A Quick Guide to Using Natural Resource Information (MN DNR: 2004).
- Model Community Conservation Subdivision District and Natural Resources Performance Standards from the 2009 Minnesota Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development.
- See a conservation design development prototype in Hanover, MN and subdivision ordinances that will allow development in a way that cost-effectively protects the City's rural character and ecological resources.
Order Number
1
Action Type
Finite